Minister Kaliati in subsidy fertilizer scam

People in Mulanje West Constituency are bitter with their Member of Parliament Patricia Kaliati because she is buying government subsidized fertilizer to herself at the expense of the poor people.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation announced over the weekend that Kaliati was visiting Admarc markets in her constituency to stop corruption that was going on there in which some officials demanded extra K500 from poor families to buy a bag of fertilizer which is also pegged at K500.

But it has emerged that Kaliati’s motive was to buy the fertilizer for herself. Some officials on her convoy reported to Nyasa Times correspondent. Some villagers too talked to our Lilongwe-based reporter.

Some irate villagers at Namphungo and Namulenga markets called Nyasa Times correspondent in Lilongwe and emptied their chest in protest against the the conduct of their MP.

“What she is doing here is that she goes to an Admarc market with a team of about 25 people. These 25 people buy fertilizer on her behalf. On her part she buys five bags from each market.

“She caused chaos at Namphungo and Muriya markets to the extent that villagers challenged her in the face that come 2014, they will not vote for her. She instructed police officers who were to chase one lady who swore at her on Sunday,” one of the villagers told Nyasa Times.

Another villager said when fertilizer had finished at Namphungo, she went with her team to Muriya and told the traditional leaders there that buying of the fertilizer would not be according to villages but as long as one had a coupon. This was to enable her people to buy the fertilizer.

“Many people have failed to buy the fertilizer. They are only keeping the coupons and do not know when the next consignment will come. Instead of facilitating the sale, she is robbing us of the opportunity to access the fertilizer. We are worried here,” the villager said.

At Muriya market, said one villager, police hit a woman in the head as the officer tried to maintain order. The woman had a deep cut. The woman also swore at Kaliati.

When contacted Kaliati said the claims by villagers were “utterly, utterly rubbish.”